The Global Achievers Award for Nigeria returns for a second time to celebrate people making an impact on Nigerian people’s lives and their society.
The awards event will take place in Dublin on 20 April and will recognise some 11 people for their contributions to the development of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Both Irish and Nigerian people will be honoured for their achievements in the arts and culture, banking, business, community support, education, medicine and politics.
In a statement, the awards co-ordinators said: “These are Nigerians and non-Nigerians who are making strong impact on the lives of Nigerians across the globe, including Ireland, through their different areas of work, and are also supporting the development of Nigeria at home and abroad.”
The statement added that the aim of the awards was to encourage young Nigerians “to emulate their successes as well as develop a more positive appreciation of Nigerians and their contributions to the different societies where they live”.
The awards programme is also intended as a contribution to combating discrimination against Nigerians abroad and to easing their integration.
November 2010 saw the first award presentation, commending 11 people – including Nigerian-born politician Cllr Rotimi Adebari; emergency medicine specialist Dr Linus Offiah; business consultant Akeem Shopeju; textile recycling company boss Frank Nwaubani; sea freight company chairman Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abu-bakar; Citibank’s EMEA director Wale Soyingbe; teahcer Meg Offiah; and Pastor Tunde Oke, head of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Ireland.
Irish-born people who received awards were Ken McCue, co-founder of Sports Against Racism Ireland (Sari); Sister Majella McCarron, who highlighted the suffering of the Ogoni people; and well-known management consultant Dr Eddie Molloy.
The initiative was set up in 2010 by Metro Éireann, Ireland’s multicultural newspaper, which will celebrate its 13th anniversary in April.
